Definitely right and none offense taken. I was just pointing out that a big part of French society is influenced by African diaspora and culture (mainly in the big cities) which is not the case in other country with the same "imperialists ambitions" operating in the continent at the moment.

It brings a mix of "damn if you do, damn if you don't" which is why, in my opinion, we should step aside from this sensible region for a bit and focus a lot more on attracting investments and developments in our DOMTOMs (oversea territories that are fully part of France).

France always kept heavy ties with Africa ever since colonization ended. Mainly in the financial and military sector with the positive and negatives repercussions it dragged. Also Northern African and ex-colonies diasporas are massive in the country. Both of those points "legitimate" our position in Africa compared to China/Russia.

I'm not saying I agree with this strategy but you can't compare that to "Nato vs China/Russia". It's mostly about France trying to protect their influence in the region in awkwardly manners.

When EU country needs EU, we're always the first to try to help and to get everyone on board.

But those same countries always buy American if they got spare money to spend.

I always been pro EU (like most of my countrymen) but yeah, we feel robbed every time.